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I am an American that has lived overseas for over 25 years now, in UK, Europe and Australia. Americans are missing out SO much by not traveling to other countries.
Expensive maybe but that's not an excuse. I save up money to Travel! I go back to visit family every 3 years and years in between I travel to other places.
I have lots of brothers and sisters and only 3 of them have come to visit me and are just amazed at how different things are.
Save up and go for it! Discover life outside your backyard!
Traveling being expensive IS an excuse. Even if you do save up a good amount of money. Some people have extra debt or commitments in their life that require that saved money. Some might be simply saving up for a rainy day. Of course every situation is different, but it's not as cut and dry as you're making it out to be.
Location: In a Galaxy far, far away called Germany
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People have their different reasons. Traveling for families can be quite expensive and not everyone has good paying jobs. Sometimes, their children just have way too many summertime activities and sometimes, these families (or couple's without kids) have to prioritize their finances towards remodeling a home. Sometimes, they are running a business and just don't have the help available to take days off (or the money). There are a # of reasons why Americans may not go overseas as often as Europeans coming to the US. Not everyone feels the need to travel either. Its not a right thing or a wrong thing.
A lot of people in the United States don't even have passports, especially in my occasional neck of the woods, Minneapolis. While many things can be seen and done within the country, there is a whole world out there to explore. I have been to close to 30 countries, which is nowhere close to what I want to accomplish over my lifetime. Granted, I'm only 23, so I have a few years left.
A lot of people in the United States don't even have passports, especially in my occasional neck of the woods, Minneapolis. While many things can be seen and done within the country, there is a whole world out there to explore. I have been to close to 30 countries, which is nowhere close to what I want to accomplish over my lifetime. Granted, I'm only 23, so I have a few years left.
We don't need passports to visit Mexico or Canada. Let's take a gander at a world map to put a little perspective on things:
Take a look at the size of the US...then add Canada...then add Mexico. See how REALLY BIG all that land mass is?
Now - take a look at Europe. My gosh, there are 27 countries in the EU - all within driving (or ferrying or a train ride) distance from each other. And they STILL don't add up to how large the US alone is:
I live in Texas. I thought this map was also interesting:
Hope this puts some perspective on things for you.
Traveling being expensive IS an excuse. Even if you do save up a good amount of money. Some people have extra debt or commitments in their life that require that saved money. Some might be simply saving up for a rainy day. Of course every situation is different, but it's not as cut and dry as you're making it out to be.
And some of us, for example, aren't fortunate enough to have health insurance, so any money we save must be set aside "just in case". I actually have a decent chunk saved up right now, but a trip to the ER and a couple of nights in a hospital would completely wipe that out.
We don't need passports to visit Mexico or Canada. Let's take a gander at a world map to put a little perspective on things:
Newsflash !!! Oh yes you do, you can no longer re-enter the US from Canada nor Mexico without a valid US passport or NEXUS card.
I'm sorry - I wasn't clear on that - I was thinking of the full blown passport, which can be used for INTERNATIONAL AIR TRAVEL. The US Passport CARD cannot be used for international air travel, but can be used by US/citizens to travel within the three countries from what I understand (as well as the Caribbean and Bermuda, but that's basically it).
And some of us, for example, aren't fortunate enough to have health insurance, so any money we save must be set aside "just in case". I actually have a decent chunk saved up right now, but a trip to the ER and a couple of nights in a hospital would completely wipe that out.
So true. Why, only a few months ago I was unfortunate enough to come down with a case of pneumonia. That was about 5 or six days in the hospital. I was lucky enough to have insurance, but you wanna know what my balance was even with insurance? I still had to pay just under $3000 bucks out of pocket. You know what it would have been if I didn't have insurance? Multiply by that by about twelve. No, I'm not kidding. And that was just the balance for the hospital room stay.
I'm still getting nickle and dimed with new smaller bills every other week for things they know I didn't need. For example, sending my blood to Houston to test me for HIV when they diagnosed my with pneumonia as dang near as soon as I walked in the door!
But I digress...point is, life can happen and it can happen fast, and you better be ready financially.
So true. Why, only a few months ago I was unfortunate enough to come down with a case of pneumonia. That was about 5 or six days in the hospital. I was lucky enough to have insurance, but you wanna know what my balance was even with insurance? I still had to pay just under $3000 bucks out of pocket. You know what it would have been if I didn't have insurance? Multiply by that by about twelve. No, I'm not kidding. And that was just the balance for the hospital room stay.
I'm still getting nickle and dimed with new smaller bills every other week for things they know I didn't need. For example, sending my blood to Houston to test me for HIV when they diagnosed my with pneumonia as dang near as soon as I walked in the door!
But I digress...point is, life can happen and it can happen fast, and you better be ready financially.
Right on.
Last year about this time, my husband unexpectedly had appendicitis and needed emergency surgery. Total cost, out of pocket AFTER insurance, was $7000.
The only good thing I can say is that he did receive excellent care, and we have been allowed to "pay out" these bills with no pressure from the medical facilities or doctors - though we've made regular monthly payments so we're keeping the wolves at bay!
what are you talking about? i see americans all over. americans travel a lot.
you wanna know who i never see in asia? mexicans.
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